I submitted my OCI application to Edinburgh VSF this morning. Had an 8:45 appointment and was the 2nd person to be there, was relatively quiet and deserted when I got there at 8:45 this morning.
After completing my application form Part-A and Part-B online, documents category and documents uploaded online are as follows:
1. Current Passport: -> British passport
2. Indian Origin Proof: -> Cancelled Indian passport
3. Employment / Work Letter: -> Letter from employer
4. Marriage Certificate: -> Marriage certificate
5. Relationship certificate: -> Utility bill
6. Indian Visa: -> Indian Passport surrender certificate
7. PIO Card: -> UK Naturalisation certificate
8. Spouse OCI Card -> Wife’s Indian passport with my name printed in it
The hand-carried document set was as follows:
1. Originals of all the documentation uploaded online. They are:
2. 2 x set of copies of the above original documentation (1a to 1h). 1 x set was self-attested.a. Original British passport
b. Original last owned Indian passport which is now canceled
c. Original Indian passport surrender certificate
d. Original British citizen naturalisation certificate
e. Original marriage certificate
f. Print out of most recent electricity bill
g. Letter from employer
h. Original Indian passport of spouse with my name on it
3. 2 x Royal Mail tracked and signed delivery envelops
4. 1 x photograph per specification
The lady at the counter took my application form, British passport and canceled Indian passport. She then asked me for my wife’s passport copy, which I handed over along with the rest of the document set.
She looked them up, literally about 3 to 5 mins and said it all looks ok. She didn’t need to see the original documents. She returned my canceled Indian passport and retained my British passport.
Retaining the British passport came as a bit of a surprise to me, as per online documentation, I was expecting them to retain the original documents set and review and return my British passport back to me.
After prelim checks were complete, I was expecting to drop off my British passport later on. Thinking about it, this is so much better / simpler to make it a single-step process.
On the timeline, I was told that my British passport would ideally arrive in 3 to 5 working days and the OCI would arrive in 3 to 4 weeks.
I paid £209.44 via debit card. Was a relatively quick and hassle-free experience.
Hope this is helpful to anyone who may be planning to or is submitting their OCI application in Edinburgh soon.
Please note: There may be subtle differences if you are applying in HCI London or VFS Birmingham, so please read relevant documentation and do your own research prior to application submission.
Best wishes,
LC
